Just another week of football….

Wow… what a week for the Big Ten… my staff and I are speechless. And people are questioning why isn’t any Big Ten teams in the top four… whew!!!

Wisconsin 34, Purdue 16

The Badgers are balanced and have a well-oiled offense.

Melvin Gordon got Wisconsin going with two touchdown runs, and Joel Stave had a great game throwing the ball (17-27, 190 yards, 2 TDs). The only Purdue player to stand out was kicker Paul Griggs, who kicked three field goals. Purdue brought it within 24-16, but Wisconsin pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Michigan 10, Northwestern 9

Another last minute heartbreaking lose for Northwestern…. That’s three years in a row.

Overall, this game had no offense at all. On social media, Michigan-Northwestern was jokingly called the M00N game since the score remained 0-0 for most of the game.

In the third quarter, Michigan turned a botched punt return into a short field touchdown. Northwestern couldn’t respond until the mid-fourth quarter when it marched 95 yards only to kick a field goal (given the game’s context, the dumbest field goal I’ve ever seen).​ After a Michigan field goal, the Wildcats drove for a touchdown with three seconds left to cut it to 10-9. Pat Fitzgerald mercifully called for a two-point conversion to end the game, but Michigan knew what was coming and Trevor Siemian fell down to end the game.

Penn State 13, Indiana 7

This game featured the battle between punters as both teams had a grand total of 20 punts….

The Hoosiers’ struck first on a pick-six by Mark Murphy. A few seconds later, the Nittany Lions countered on Bill Belton’s 92-yard touchdown run, the longest by any player in Penn State history. It was the only offensive highlight on the day. Other than two second half field goals by Penn State’s Sam Ficken… that’s it folks….

Tevin Coleman finished the game with 71 yards on 20 carries.

Minnesota 51, Iowa 14

Every year, Minnesota and Iowa play for Floyd of Rosedale, a bronze trophy shaped like a pig. The Big Ten’s most idiosyncratic trophy went to the Golden Gophers, as Minnesota handed Iowa its worst loss in 15 years.

Iowa opened with a touchdown, and that was it for a while for them… The Gophers rattled off 51 consecutive points, demolishing Iowa on the ground and through the air. Maxx Williams had three touchdown catches, including a fantastic spear in the second quarter, and the defense shut down Iowa until the waning seconds of the game.

After this dominant performance, it’s time for the nation to reconsider the Gophers as a force to be reckoned with. They are one of only four Big Ten teams to control their destiny in the conference championship race, and they have an outside chance of breaking into the top 25 rankings by year’s end. With games remaining against Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin, Minnesota needs all the gravitas it can muster.

Next week (week 12) brings some good action, namely a matchup between ranked Nebraska and Wisconsin teams and a consolation game between Michigan State and Maryland. Whatever happens, it ought to be better than this week. See you all then.

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High School Football at its best

Homewood-Flossmoor 42, Edwardsville 35

Again, the Vikings “wonder-twin” power was activated on Saturday evening as twins Devonte and Deante Harley-Hampton carried the load leading the team into the Class 8A quarterfinals.

Richards 34, Lincoln-Way West 27

Birthday celebration was in order for senior quarterback Hasan Muhammad-Rogers as he completed 16 of 23 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns to lead Richards past host Lincoln-Way West in a Class 7A.

“It’s the best birthday ever,” Muhammad-Rogers said. “I get to spend another week with my team.”

Geneseo 41, Rich East 16

Not enough Rocket fuel as the (Rich) East go down to Geneseo in the second round 41-16.

Brian Stewart led the way with 12 carries for 68 yards and one score. The other score was made by , followed by Tyler McGregory. The Maple Leafs remain undefeated at 11-0 for the season.

Lemont 35, Yorkville 14

Things got started with a 16-yard touchdown run by Lemont freshman Anthony Martin (21 carries for 101 yards) and they never looked back. Quarterback Ryan Dawson led the way going 14-for-20 for 172 yards and four TDs including redzone strikes to Duke-bound receiver Flynn Nagel (4 catches, 58 yards).

Friday, November 7

Providence 34, St. Rita 3

Providence wins BIG over cross-town rival St. Rita for the second time but this time it was in the playoffs.

“It’s hard to beat a team twice and they have big play guys and that’s what concerned us the most,” coach Mark Coglianese said. “That (punt return) was a big spark for us.”

Things got started early for the Celtics when Sophomore running back Richie Warfield (13 carries for 111 yards) score from 10 yards out and they NEVER looked back.

Senior quarterback Justin Hunniford (12-for-24, 224 yards, 2 TDs) played BIG also accounting for 20 of the Celtics’ points including six of those on a pair of field goals (31 and 24 yards). The remaining 14 came on a pair of TD passes. The first was a 75-yard bomb to Notre Dame-bound Miles Boykin (5 catches, 96 yards) and the other was a 4-yard TD pass to Mike Beller.

The Mustangs suffered a huge setback on their opening drive when starting quarterback Scott Proctor went down with a lower body injury and didn’t return. C.J. Weydeman (8-for-23, 42 yards) took over the quarterback duties and struggled against an unforgiving Celtics’ defense led by Jake Rost (two sacks).

“We felt confident coming in and we were doing some things they haven’t seen,” St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said. “That’s just a great team over there.”

DePaul Prep 14, St. Laurence 7

Alex Salach rushed for a touchdown and and Markavius Ross returned an interception 31 yards for a score to lead DePaul Prep (6-4). Carlos Baker caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Romello Washington for St. Laurence (5-6).

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